How did you survive a late apprenticeship at 35?

[meltpfeffer]

I'm 35, drive trucks, earn good money. But I don't want this forever. I always wanted to be a tradie working for myself. I can't AFFORD the pay cut for a 4-year apprenticeship. For those who did an apprenticeship late, how did you survive? Was it worth it?

 

[totemcannon]

Always wanted to, never could.

Been driving trucks now for 21 years and I’ve hated it for probably at least 15 years.

I’ve tried againn and again to get out, can’t be done, so now I’ve given up and doing the opposite and going all in, buying my own truck to hopefully dig myself a path out that way, it’ll never happen as an employee.

It means locking myself in for at least another 10 years but at least it’s a plan.

 

[EpicGecko47]

Not quite the same but you could buy your own truck.

 

[brokenbouldermgr]

I’ve been wanting to do a heavy diesel apprenticeship too, tbh, bc it'd help me be a truck driver, but I just can't justify the shit money, imo.

 

[DragonVanilla]

You can get out of it, but it always comes down to whether the investment (the pay cut) is worth it. There are plenty of other options besides trades.

 

[codecanvas]

Leaping from one AI doomed job into another with the same expiration date. Already seeing it in the professions, modern vehicles are making drivers steering wheel attendants, so axing the pricey fleshy bit is the next cost cut win. Humanoid platforms like NVIDIA and Unitree will wreck the trades in a flash they're about two years away.

 

[CubicHazard]

prob can do trucking later on, so at that age i'd start thinkin bout the body n how long you'll last as a qualified tradie n stuff. tbh it depends on the trade, like a sparky's gonna get a longer working life than say a framing chippy, ya know?

 

[nxTyg3rB1t3]

Go get your builders licence. The course is free at the moment

 

[DreaMaru]

Honestly, the money's not bad it's like 90% of the trade award rate. I don't get how people say they weren't paid enough. Their efficiency is 50% and they cost 90% of a qualified trade. I'm actually not hiring apprentices anymore. They're not worth mentoring and training for this exact reason. People think it's all about money, not about learning.

 

[SmokeySaron]

To make the pay cut smaller, apply to the biggest, biggest companies, since they offer higher pay for mature apprentices. Good luck chase your dreams, or you might end up regretting not trying. If you're in NSW, don't be a sparky; be a plumber, for sparkies outnumber plumbers by almost three to one.

 

[AutoSvchost]

I walked away from my trade around forty, and I'll be honest with you if you truly want to do a certain trade, just do it. I've said it before, and I mean it: some trades can be brutally hard on your body over the years, and that's something you really have to face with open eyes. Don't fool yourself into thinking a bigger paycheck after the trade automatcally means a better life. On the brighter side, a change can feel just as good as a holiday, and you'll never feel more motivated at least for a while. Just be careful when you pick your trade, so that motivation doesn't fade on you.

PS if you love working on cars, don't become a mechanic.